Aussies will come hard at the Indians

The first final of the CB Series was one of the rare occasions in the recent past where I saw Australia completely outplayed in a One-Day International.

India bowled better and batted much better to go 1-0 up in the finals, and Australia have only one day to regroup and ensure that they execute their plans better than they did at the Sydney Cricket Ground. I am sure that Ricky Ponting is hurt, not bec ause they lost, but because he must feel that his team were flat and unimpressive on Sunday.

Super Sunday

The Indians, on the other hand, had a super Sunday. The under-19 team lifted the World Cup in Malaysia hours after the seniors had demolished the World champions. I was really impressed by some of India’s juniors, and since some of the members of the one-day team are also barely in the 20s, the future seems bright for India.

The new generation of players is a lot fitter, possesses a more positive body language and is pretty unaffected by reputations.

Special player

On Sunday, there were two moments that really exemplified the attitude of generation next of India’s players. The first was the partnership between Rohit Sharma and Sachin Tendulkar. The latter was on 99, and on the verge of taking a suicidal second run. Sharma responded to the late call and sent Tendulkar back, thus ensuring that the team did not lose a wicket.

I have been really impressed with the maturity and sound technique of this boy. He has been hailed as the next Tendulkar already and is a special talent, but also one that needs to be nurtured, and given time to blossom.

The other special moment was the way Mahendra Singh Dhoni strode in with 30 runs to go. The manner in which he knocked off the remaining runs and took his team to victory was really impressive. There was no conservatism in his approach, and when he was in the middle with Tendulkar at that stage, the game was actually looking ridiculously one-sided.

However, the guy who really took the game by the scruff of its neck was Tendulkar. On Sunday, he answered many questions about his recent performances with a knock that was quite clearly the difference between the two sides.

It was said that he never scored in any game of consequence, and he has now scored in two crucial games — one to get the Indians into the finals, and another to make his team go one-up in the finals. What’s more, he had never ever scored a century on Australian soil. That was a record that must have irked him, and he has remedied that situation as well.

Sometimes, when one has played for as long as Tendulkar, one needs a challenge to really get wound up. This tour of Australia will hold a special place in Tendulkar’s heart because he has been able to contribute at crucial moments for his team in both the Tests as well as the ODIs. He was not fully fit towards the end of the run chase, and if he or Ishant Sharma misses Tuesday’s game it will be a big boost for the host.

Below par

Looking ahead to tomorrow, I see the Australians coming really hard at the Indians. I believe Ponting has given the team a dressing down, and I am not surprised. The batting has been really out of sync in this tri-series, and while the bowlers have bailed the team out on past occasions, they too were below par at the SCG.

The wicket was one on which even 270 would have been hard to defend, and 240 was well within reach of the Indians. Praveen Kumar was a bowler the Aussies were clearly targeting, but he played smart and stuck to the basics. They will target Kumar tomorrow as well, but this time round, they will have to be a little more careful with their shot selection.

The absence of partnerships is clearly hampering Australia’s batting, and it is evident that quite a few of the batsmen are not in very good touch. The notable exception is Adam Gilchrist, who is a very proud cricketer.

He would be determined to go out on a winning note, which means he might come up with one last gem tomorrow to ensure that the finals go into a third game.

News Source : Samachar

Ishant may be the difference, says Nielsen

The masters of the mind games are at their wits end. They have been beaten at their own game by a side that has scrapped hard all through the summer.

The morning after their six-wicket reverse in the first final at Sydney, Australia conceded that India’s audacity in the triangular affair had left them grappling with demons in their mind heading into the second final of the tri-series at the Gabba today.

“I think you’d be unhuman to not have a bit of a hit to the confidence when you’re not getting the results you’re looking for. It’s the challenge for elite sport,” Australia coach Tim Nielsen said yesterday.

The pioneers of mental disintegration tactics have never looked so grim given their famed bullish reputations. But all of a sudden they have developed a psychological snag and that’s mainly due to the Indian bowlers who have not cringed from the challenge.

Ishant Sharma, with 14 wickets and a bowling average of 20.43 in the series has been difficult to get away and Nielsen pointed that out.

“We’re playing against very good opposition and a bowling attack that’s bowling very well. Our challenge at the moment is to keep these blokes up and keep them in a state of mind that gives them every opportunity. Sharma may be the difference. He’s had a big impact on the summer,” Neilsen said.

Ponting and Co are set to get a breather as the beanpole bowler is likely to be ruled out of with a finger injury for today’s clash.

Mental Reserve

India, however, has played more than any other team in world cricket and it only speaks of their mental reserves although for how long it’ll continue remains to be seen.

“It’s just a matter of trying to maintain your focus and concentration throughout a long summer,” Nielsen said. For an Australian to reveal confidence and mental issues within the ranks is as rare as Harbhajan Singh getting a Christmas card from Down Under. The coach said his side had only a day to overcome their frailties and bounce back.

“We’re doing the best we can. We’re doing a lot of work. As Ricky said last night, it’s probably the mental side of the game that’s let us down a little bit.”

Gilly’s swansong?

The Australian think-tank has had a series of meeting with its players and Ponting admitted to have read out the riot act in the Sydney dressing room.

Given the antecedents of the Gabba track, which has some juice in it for the faster bowlers, Ponting may go in with a four-pronged pace attack and that’ll only ensure Brad Hogg bids adieu to cricket from the stands.

The same can not be said of Adam Giclrhist, one man who’ll play with gay abandon in a game which could possibly be his last in Australian colours. The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman has a had a tremendous sense of occasion and for that he’s most likely to go out swinging.

News Source : Samachar

4 TRS members quit Lok Sabha

Four members of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) submitted their resignations from the Lok Sabha on Monday in protest against the delay in the creation of a Telangana State. Following their example, TRS legislators will resign from the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The TRS MPs — K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Vinod Kumar Boianapalli, Ravinder Naik Dharavath and T. Madhusudan Reddy — submitted their resignations to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee soon after the House convened for the day. Later in the evening Mr. Chatterjee accepted the resignations.

The four MPs first trooped into the well of the House but returned to their designated places when the Speaker told them that nothing they said from the well would go on record. Raising the Telangana issue, Mr. Rao said that when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was formed, clear-cut assurances had been given on the formation of a Telangana State.

“The Congress has betrayed the people of Telangana,” Mr. Rao said before proceeding to the Speaker’s podium to submit his resignations. Other TRS members followed him before leaving the House shouting “Jai Telangana” slogans.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some of its allies in the National Democratic Alliance also walked out of the House to express solidarity with the TRS members.

News Source : Samachar

Virat changed after his dad's death: Mother

At every nook and corner in the bylanes of Shankar Garden near Vikas Puri, you could’ve mistaken every old lady passing by for U-19 World Cup-winning captain Virat Kohli’s mother. Just the way they took his name, the way they pointed to his house, their inquisitiveness, the pride and the possessiveness in their voice and the glint in their eye, suggested that as if their own son had lifted the Cup last night. Then you meet the mother, Saroj Kohli and one is almost disappointed.

You would expect her to grin from ear-to-ear, acting a bit pricey too, perhaps. But then you know why the house is so incredibly silent and his mother so brilliantly measured in her comments. The heartache is still fresh, and the extraordinary achievement of the previous night - it showed - had reinforced the heartache. " Bahut bari khushi lake diya Virat ne . If his father was alive it would have been a different type of celebrations. Woh khushi alag hoti. Itna khushi aati nahi, jitni honi chahiye ," said Saroj, in almost a hush. "I’m sure he would have called his lawyer friends over for a party in the house when Virat would have returned."

Prem Kohli, Virat’s father, passed away in December 2006 after being bed-ridden for a month due to brain-stroke. And as luck would have it, he passed away in the middle of a crucial Ranji trophy tie against Karnataka. Virat was the overnight batsman for Delhi and he was just taking his first steps in his debut Ranji season. Amazingly, Virat went ahead and played the match. He had to and scored a brave 90. "My husband passed away in his sleep at around 2 in the morning. Virat was in two minds about whether to play or not. Rajkumar Sharma (Virat’s coach since his childhood) who was in Australia then advised him not to let go off a chance since it is so difficult to make it to the team. It was difficult for Virat. He came directly to the funeral after his knock of 90. He was wrongly given out. I remember that too." Not stretching belief, but Virat’s mind vis-a-vis his career was shaped by the unfortunate event.

"Virat changed a bit after that day. Overnight he became a much more matured person. He took every match seriously. He hated being on the bench. It’s as if his life hinged totally on cricket after that day. Now, he looked like he was chasing his father’s dream which was his own too."

Virat’s father, a criminal lawyer, first took the 9-year-old to the West Delhi Cricket Club after the neighbours suggested that Virat shouldn’t waste his time in gully cricket and instead join a professional club. "He’s got great strength in his arms for a kid," a neighbour told Virat’s father even as the lawyer made it his mission of sorts from that day onwards to make sure Virat got the best of training to reach the upper echelons of Indian cricket. Hence, Saroj is so upset that her husband couldn’t live to watch the highest point of his son’s career.

Saroj too couldn’t watch the final herself, for obvious reasons. It was one ball and 13 runs left when she joined family members - Virat’s brother Vikas and his wife - in the bedroom to soak in the atmosphere. Till then she was too nervous to watch. Later Virat called up to ask whether she enjoyed it? To which she replied: "Thank you beta ."

Virat started off his schooling from Vishal Bharti till he shifted to Savier Convent in ninth standard so that it didn’t harm his practice. Saroj has ensured that when Virat returns home he gets his favourite mutton biryani and kheer. She also has another plan up her sleeves and that is of building a separate room for Virat. "He is a big man now. He needs to start living in style," said Saroj. But she can’t help but sign off by saying that if her husband was present then they would have felt that "they have conquered the whole world."

News Source : Samachar

'Very happy' over progress made in IAEA talks: Congress

Congress on Monday said it was "very happy" over the progress made in the IAEA talks in connection with the Indo-US nuclear deal and sought to bring the Left around for an understanding over the ticklish issue.

"We are happy that India has made significant and notable progress at the IAEA talks. We are particularly happy that a vast and diverse area of differences have been covered, have been ironed out in the fifth round of talks," AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

Singhvi made a suo-motu statement at the AICC briefing saying it was "equally optimistic, positive and hopeful" about the deliberations and consultations at the Joint Mechanism of the UPA and Left parties which shall follow after the IAEA talks.

"We are confident of a constructive approach by all concerned... Totally confident and sure of a reasonable approach by all sections of the Joint Mechanism", he said.

The AICC spokesman's statement came on a day when External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee made a statement in Parliament on foreign policy issues including the nuclear issue.

Questioning certain statements from the US, Mukherjee made it clear that its rights and obligations on civil nuclear cooperation came only from the bilateral 123 Agreement and the controversial Hyde Act did not bind it.

News Source : Samachar

“Hyde Act will hurt sovereignty”

The Left parties on Monday warned the UPA government not to operationalise the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal and disagreed with the government assertion that the provisions of the controversial Hyde Act would not affect India.

At a press conference, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury said the party did not agree with the government’s view and felt that the Hyde Act would severely compromise India’s independent foreign policy and sovereignty.

“We don’t agree with the government that the Hyde Act’s implications do not exist for India. ... We don’t think that the government should proceed to operationalise the deal,” Mr. Yechury said here.

Reacting to the statement of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day, Mr. Yechury said though Hyde Act was an enabling provision, the U.S. legislature had given a waiver to President George Bush to enter into civil nuclear cooperation with India “under conditions listed in the Act.” The Polit Bureau in a statement cautioned the government that there was no “political consensus” on the nuclear deal and advised it not to proceed further with the agreement.

“It is ironical that the statement to Parliament says that the government will continue to ‘seek’ a broad political consensus within the country. The government should first respect the majority opinion expressed by Parliament when the 123 agreement was discussed in the winter session of 2007. The government should acknowledge that its stand on the nuclear deal does not have the support of Parliament. There is no political consensus and hence it should not proceed further with the agreement,” the Polit Bureau said.

Dwelling on the Hyde Act, the Polit Bureau said that “it has become a practice for the Indian government to reiterate that the Hyde Act has no relevance for India and it is not applicable to us. No one else believes this to be so. Neither the Hyde Act nor the 123 agreement which has been drafted within the framework of the Hyde Act provisions meet the assurances given by the Prime Minister in his August 2006 statement to Parliament.”

In the same vein, CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said: “If the government proceeds in the direction of finalising the deal, we will be free to decide our own course of action and the course is known to the government.”

News Source : Samachar

Govt fighting hard to meet N-deal deadline

The ides of March may be India's internal deadline for completing the IAEA safeguards agreement on its civilian nuclear facilities.

This has reportedly been decided by the government, after the MEA-DAE team returned from Vienna on Sunday with what appears to be the final draft of the agreement.

The government's legal brains will now go through the agreement to see if India can "live with" it. This exercise, sources said, should be completed by the middle of this month.

The completed Indian safeguards agreement is expected to dovetail into foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee's maiden visit (as foreign minister) to Washington on March 23-25, where he is expected to present this to his counterpart Condoleezza Rice.

Politically, sources said, it would make sense for Mukherjee to go to Washington with a concrete document in hand, rather than open himself up to a host of diplomatic harangue.

Sources indicated that the crucial UPA-Left meeting will probably be scheduled after his return and after the CPM's party congress scheduled for March 29. This remains the imponderable because it's not yet clear whether the government will take the agreement beyond the Left's veto - which is a given.

In fact, pre-empting the expected criticism of Rice's statement, Mukherjee stated in Parliament on Monday, "The Hyde Act is an enabling provision that is between the executive and legislative organs of the US government. India's rights and obligations regarding civil nuclear cooperation with the US arise only from the bilateral 123 agreement."

What is not clear is how the government plans to go ahead with the deal if the Left withdraws support and it is reduced to a minority.

Mukherjee had earlier said that other countries would not like to conclude a nuclear agreement with a minority government. This circle has not been squared. Mukherjee gave a spirited defence of the nuclear deal. "The conclusion of the safeguards agreement will enable the Nuclear Suppliers Group to amend its guidelines for civil nuclear commerce with India," he said.

Consistent with the government's policy of spreading the goodies around in the nuclear sector to make it more palatable to the Left, Mukherjee said, "This (the deal) will open the door to civil nuclear cooperation with various countries including Russia, US, France and UK with whom the necessary enabling bilateral agreements for such trade have been discussed and are in various stages of finalisation."

News Source : Samachar

Mumbai doc loses control of car, kills child

A 14-month-old infant died after being hit by a car driven by a doctor who did not have a driving licence. The accident took place on Sunday and the girl, Sanya Chauhan, succumbed to her injuries on Monday.

Dr Rahul Kulkarni, 28, was initially arrested on charges of rash driving and driving without a licence. “But as the girl died, we have now booked Kulkarni for causing death due to negligence,” said Maruti Naik, senior police inspector of Vile Parle police station. Kulkarni was released on bail on Monday.

Kulkarni was learning to drive his father’s new Ford Ikon when he lost control at a turn and crashed into Kamkar Niwas Chawl.

According to eyewitnesses, Kulkarni, who lives in the neighbouring building, washed the car and, along with his brother, decided to take it out for a spin. After circling the block once, he accelerated but instead of turning left, crashed through the boundary wall of the chawl and landed on the steps of a ground floor house. Sanya, who was sitting on the steps, went under the car’s tyres.

Another girl, 12-year-old domestic help Suchitra M., who was washing vessels in the compound, was injured while trying to rescue Sanya. Kulkarni was dragged out of the car and beaten up before the residents dragged him to the police.

“When Kulkarni was taken to the police, his father Suresh told them that he was behind the wheel,” said Uday Prabhupatka, who lives next door to the Chauhans.

News Source : Samachar

Priyanka won't work with Akshay

For those itching to watch Akki and Priyanka set the silver screen afire with their scorching chemistry (remember Aitraaz, Andaaz etc), here’s a bit of an anticlimax.

Last seen together in Waqt, reportedly Akshay decided not to work with Priyanka after news of an alleged link-up between the two spread like wildfire and wife Twinkle Khanna issued an ultimatum to hubby dearest. But after a three-year hiatus, Akshay and Priyanka were to work together in Blue, an action flick by Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision. Only Priyanka didn’t give her nod.

The grapevine suggests that is because Twinkle is not comfortable with the prospect of Akshay working with Priyanka again. But a well placed source puts all wild rumours to rest. "Blue did not work out because the script was just not good enough for Priyanka. Priyanka’s declining the offer has nothing to do with Twinkle," he says.

News Source : Samachar

Go by majority on N-deal: Left to govt

In response to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's remarks on the Indo-US nuke deal in Parliament, the CPM says it's surprised that the government is still trying to seek a consensus.

''We are trying for a broad based political consensus,'' said Mukherjee in Parliament.

The foreign minister's statement gave away nothing new on how much the government would risk to see the nuclear deal through. But it was enough for the Left to deliver an ultimatum.

In a statement, the CPM said, ''It is ironical that the statement to Parliament says that the government will continue to 'seek' a broad political consensus within the country. The government should first respect the majority opinion expressed by Parliament when the 123 Agreement was discussed in the Winter session.''

''The government should acknowledge that its stand on the nuclear deal does not have the support of Parliament. There is no political consensus and hence it should not proceed further with the agreement,'' the statement said.

Time is running out and the Left is not budging. So, after a hugely please all Budget, does the government feel more confident about facing an early election?

The Congress is divided and strategists are debating two possible options.

Option one

• The government goes ahead with the nuke deal. The Left withdraws support. The Budget is not passed and there are early elections. In that case, the UPA would go to voters with the thwarted promises of farmer loan waivers as a key election issue.

Option two

• The government decides not to go ahead with the deal. The Budget is cleared and of course that means no early polls.

Earlier, Mukherjee said on Monday that the government was in the process of concluding negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Negotiators from India and IAEA concluded the fifth round of talks on the safeguards on Thursday and reported considerable progress towards the text which once completed will be presented to a Left-UPA committee.

News Source : Samachar

Mystery clouds UK girl's death in Goa

Fiona McKeown, whose minor daughter was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Anjuna beach in North Goa, has refused to take her teenage daughter's body home in Devon, UK, till cops conduct a second autopsy.

"I am absolutely convinced of foul play in my daughter Scarlette Keeling's death and want the police to conduct a second autopsy. I suspect that my daughter was sexually abused and assaulted," said Fiona. Her suspicions are not without a base as the autopsy report submitted by the police surgeon states Scarlette had an abrasion on the forehead and eyelids and bruises on both the shin, which was made with a blunt weapon.

North Goa SP Bosco George said he would recommend a second autopsy. "We are making arrangements to send the girl's viscera and smear stride and swabs for forensic tests to Delhi," he said. Though Goa police at first dismissed the British girl's demise as "death due to drowning", they’re now examining whether the death was homicidal or accidental.

"We will give a report within two days whether the death was homicidal or accidental. At present, we are checking on the people who were last seen with the girl," said the SP.

According to the police, 15-year-old Scarlette was last seen at Lui Cafi in Govekarwado, Anjuna in the company of two restaurateurs and a local drug supplier, both from Anjuna, who were known to her. A waiter at Lui Cafi confirmed this.

"Scarlette was at the Cafi with two locals till about 4 am on February 18. She was in an inebriated state and couldn't even stand straight. Once we closed at 4 am, she left with the two men," the waiter said. In the morning, cops found her semi-naked body floating in the water near Lui Cafi at 7.15 am.

Locals who knew Scarlette find it difficult to believe that she died due to drowning. "Her family members are good swimmers and she wouldn't have gone into the sea at night, knowing very well the risks of swimming in a rocky area at night," said Richard Pereira, who owns a shack in the area.

News Source : Samachar

Two killed in shooting at US fast food restaurant: media

An armed man entered a Wendy's fast food restaurant in Florida on Monday and began shooting randomly, killing one person and wounding several others before turning the gun on himself, local media said.

The attack took place at midday in West Palm Beach, fire spokesman Don Delucia told WPBF local television news.

Delucia said two people were killed, including the shooter, and four people were wounded.

News Source : Samachar

'Indian animation needs to change'

In an interview to Naomi Canton, Pioneering Hollywood visual effects expert Charles Darby provided a critical view of the Indian animation industry.

Darby has credits for The Matrix, the Titanic and Harry Potter films, is co-founder of EyeQube Studios in Mumbai, which has teamed up with Eros International, a distributor and producer of Indian films, to make visual effects for Bollywood films and international productions.

Where does India fit in the global animation scene?
India has a huge and ever expanding animation industry, however much of the work looks the same, lacking any particular style. Quality is also fairly low-end currently. India has thus concentrated on quantity over quality and when compared to high-end standards globally it's lacking.

Are your critical thoughts equally aimed at Mumbai as well?
Yes, India and Mumbai offer the same advantages and suffer from the same disadvantages.

Is India doing the low- or high-end work of the animation value chain?
It focuses on sheer numbers and can offer really aggressive pricing. I, however, see value stemming from both price and how creative the work is.

Why is work being outsourced to India in the first place?
Price. No other reason. That needs to change if the industry is to continue to grow.

Is the work being carried out here in Mumbai up to scratch or are Western clients not happy with it? Is it as good as what is produced in Hollywood?
No. I'm afraid the international VFX, or visual effects, community does not take the work here too seriously. They have seen no proof of real quality or creative thinking. What they are interested in is how to take advantage of India and the cost of production here. They know India represents an amazing opportunity to save money, but there are enough horror stories out there to make them very cautious.

Can you give an example?
I will not mention names or specifics, but the problems occur when a creative company in the West ends up doing business with a more procedure-based company here in India. The two have a hard time understanding each other and the attention to detail often falls short.
The question 'when is the shot 100 per cent done?' comes into question. The Western company will often want to keep pushing the shot, but the Indian company will often be happy at 70 to 80 per cent because in their eyes it's at 100 per cent.

What would Mumbai studios specifically need to do to raise the quality of their work?
Training, high-end experience on quality films and a more creative approach to the work. A 'less is more' approach, if you will.

Have you been a Western client outsourcing work here?
I have colleagues who have outsourced work to India on occasion.

What are the key challenges the Indian animation scene faces?
Quality is the key. Breaking away from an IT view, and understanding the reason why we call our staff artists and not technicians.

Does it face a threat from other Asian nations or will Western clients still commission production work in India in the future because the quality is better and the experience is there?
There is always someone, somewhere, who can beat you on price if they so desire, and India is not so cheap that it does not need to worry about such things. Costs in India continue to rise as VFX staff demand more money, and yet the quality is not leaping at the same speed. That equation is not a good one, so the industry needs to control that.

Could more pre-production be done in India?
There is very little pre-production done, which is madness. We at EyeQube are building a whole department for this, including production designing. Great VFX work is often born at this stage rather than later on in post.

Where does the future of animation in Mumbai lie in your view?
I think a few really big companies will start to push the envelope and quality will begin to show. They will work on domestic films with good budgets and international productions. Many of the other animation and VFX companies will fight it out for lesser work and ever tighter budgets, which will be an uncomfortable place to be in financially and artistically.

What are the hard and soft skills needed to enter the animation profession and climb the career ladder successfully?
I have always said it's better to be creative and learn the software or hardware than the other way around. Once on the ladder, the ability to come up with ideas and solutions is always worth it's weight in gold. Also, remember to study film and learn it's visual vocabulary.

Does an Indian animator have global opportunities? Can he or she look for work overseas once qualified? How easy is that?
Of course, but only if they are good. It takes a lot to bring people over to the U.S., and the better you are, the more likely it's an option.

What is the difference between animation and visual effects?
India seems to get itself somewhat confused with the two, but I always differentiate them by VFX being at the service of live action footage, matching it and adding to it seamlessly. Animation is a stand-alone art form, which can decide it's own style, independent of any live action.

News Source : Samachar

Can the Aussies bounce back at the Gabba?

The heat will be on the world champion at the Gabba. Australia is just a game away from losing the CB tri-series. Rather, India is just one game away from an epoch-making triumph.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s young team has exceeded expectations. It also has the momentum in its favour.

Under normal circumstances, Australia would be the favourite against any opposition at the Gabba. The surface, which has pace, bounce and movement, has been a happy hunting ground for the Aussies.

But then, these are not normal times for Ricky Ponting and his men. The Australian batting in the series has had several chinks, the skipper’s inconsistency at the crucial No. 3 slot not the least among them. This line-up has been vulnerable against precise seam and swing bowling right through the series.

Ishant Sharma, in particular, has tested the Australian batsmen. However, there are concerns in the Indian camp over the strike bowler’s fitness. Will his swollen bowling middle finger improve sufficiently on the morning of the match?

Four pacemen

The Indians have adopted the ‘horses for courses’ policy in the series and young leggie Piyush Chawla, despite a creditable display at the SCG, is likely to make way for a paceman. India may play four specialist pacemen.

S. Sreesanth had troubled Australia with his outswingers in the league game between the sides here and could relish the conditions. Munaf Patel’s inclusion could depend on Ishant’s fitness.

Irfan Pathan proved expensive at the SCG but his batting ability in case only six specialist batsmen are picked again could save his place. The humid conditions in Brisbane could assist the left-armer’s swing. Light spells of rain have been forecast for Tuesday.

Early strikes from the pacemen will be critical. Praveen Kumar has been a revelation both at the beginning of the innings as well as the death. Can he make an early dent in the Aussie innings again?

Bowl first

The Gabba has a reputation of being a ‘bowl first’ wicket. Inserting the opposition and utilising the early assistance from the pitch has often been the mantra for success at this venue.

Predictably, the Indian top-order will be in sharp focus. Sachin Tendulkar was inspirational in the first final. Despite being bothered by a groin injury, Tendulkar is likely to play.

The Kookaburra ball does plenty early on and Brett Lee will be a factor. If the early overs are seen through with minimal loss, batting will be an easier task against a ball that does not really encourage reverse swing. Moreover, there is the mandatory change of the ball after the 34th over.

Tuesday’s match could be Adam Gilchrist’s last international game. The adorable cricketer will not be short of motivation. But then, his major innings in this series have come against Sri Lanka. Matthew Hayden batted with flair and focus at the SCG but got out at the wrong time.

Interestingly, both of Ponting’s hundreds against India on the tour in the Adelaide Test and the league game at the SCG were constructed on flat tracks. When the ball has jagged around, he has been opened up.

Among the middle-order batsmen, only Michael Clarke and to a lesser extent Michael Hussey have been consistent. The Aussies need to put runs on the board.

With Rohit Sharma striking form, India has less batting worries but faces a challenge on what could be a seaming track. Paceman Stuart Clark is expected to replace spinner Brad Hogg, another cricketer on the verge of retirement.

In the ODI contests between the teams this summer, India and Australia have two wins each with the game at the Gabba evenly poised when rain ended the contest.

Only on three occasions has Australia lost the first final and roared back to win the tri-series. India will seek to finish things at the Gabba. Can the Aussies take the finals to Adelaide?

News Source : Samachar

Sensex plunges 901 pts on US recession fears

After a sluggish performance in the week leading up to the Budget, the Sensex was back to its old ways on Monday.

The index dropped 901 points - its biggest loss in five weeks - to close at 16,678 and investors saw their wealth eroded by Rs 2.69 lakh crore in just about five hours. The Nifty, too, shed 271 points to close below the psychologically significant 5000-level at 4,953.

With the indices on Wall Street dropping sharply on Friday, analysts said they had pretty much expected the Indian markets to follow suit when they opened for trading on Monday.

The US markets were hammered on Friday after another round of weak economic data was reported. It fuelled fears of a recession in the US. Not just that, insurance giant AIG posted a record $5.29 billion loss for the last quarter. That added to the nervousness and saw Asian markets open between 1-4% lower on Monday. But the Sensex was the biggest loser after dropping a little over 5%, its second-largest fall in a day.

"The 901-point drop was largely on account of global market movements. The Budget was not a major factor in the day's slide," said Rashesh Shah, MD, Edelweiss Capital.

News Source : Samachar

Small towns in virginity repair rush

Going under the knife to reclaim virginity is a trend that seems to have shifted base from the Middle East to smaller Indian cities.

City doctors say that where almost 80 per cent of surgeries were conducted on those from the Middle East a few years ago, now women from small cities and towns in Maharashtra and neighbouring states – like Surat and Baroda – form the bulk.

If restructuring the hymen can help restructure lives after premarital sex, then hymenoplasty seems to be the right answer. The procedure involves creating a membrane about an inch into the vagina that resembles a natural hymen.

“I get occasional requests from young women who want to know about such procedures. Most of the requests come from small towns or some select communities, where virginity really counts,” said Dr Rishima Pai, gynaecologist with Lilavati and Jaslok hospital.

“With awareness and easy availability, more women are coming forward, sometimes accompanied by family members,” said Dr Milind Wagh, cosmetic surgeon at Dr L.H.Hiranandani Hospital.

“Another reason for the growing trend maybe the costs involved. With the procedure coming for anything between Rs 25,000 and Rs 40,000, those from small town can afford it. The demand from these regions is more because acceptance levels of premarital sex is lower,” said Dr Mohan Thomas, cosmetic surgeon at Breach Candy Hospital.

“It is disturbing but true that women are expected to be the epitome of virtue. As long as it’s her decision, it’s fine. But family and societal expectations to make her appear ‘pure’ is unfair,” said Dr Sharita Shah, psychiatrist at Saifee, Bhatia and Hurkisondas hospitals.

News Source : Samachar

Pakistan finally frees Kashmir Singh

Indian national Kashmir Singh was released on Monday after spending 35 years on death row in Pakistani jails and will be reunited with his family at the Wagah border on Tuesday.

Singh, pardoned last week by President Pervez Musharraf after his case was taken up by caretaker Human Rights Minister Ansar Burney, emerged from the Kot Lakhpat Central Jail a little after 8.20 pm (local time).

Escorted by Burney and his family, a relieved-looking Singh got into a waiting vehicle and was driven to a five-star hotel where he would spend the night. Some people showered rose petals on the car as it sped away from the jail.

Singh's release from jail was beamed live on all Pakistani news channels but he did not speak to the waiting media. "My wife and I will accompany Singh to Wagah where he will be reunited with his family at 11 am tomorrow," Burney told PTI.

Suresh Reddy, the visa counsellor from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, went to Lahore to hand over Singh's travel documents at the jail.

"Singh is in sound health. He has been following the news about his case on radio and TV and is excited at the prospect of seeing his family," Reddy said.

Though there was a slight delay in completing certain formalities for the prisoner's release, Burney asked officials at the jail to remain in their offices beyond normal working hours so that Singh could be freed on Monday itself.

Following the approval of Singh's mercy petition by Musharraf last week, the order for his release was issued by the Interior Ministry on Saturday.

Singh's wife Paramjit Kaur, who has been struggling for his release since his arrest in 1973 and his subsequent conviction on espionage charges, will greet him on the Indian side of the border with family members and friends.

The Ansar Burney Trust, one of Pakistan's most prominent rights organisations, has announced a grant of one million rupees for Singh.

The Trust is now working for the release of other Indian nationals in Pakistani prisons, particularly fishermen. Burney's son Fahad Burney, the acting chairman of the Trust, said the organisation was also searching for Indian prisoners of war in Pakistani jails and working for the release of Pakistani nationals from Indian jails.

Singh was arrested in Rawalpindi in 1973. He was sentenced to death by a military court after being convicted on espionage charges.

Singh was traced by Ansar Burney during a visit by to Lahore's Central Jail as part of his work for prisoners' rights and jail reforms.

A mercy petition sent by the minister was accepted on humanitarian grounds by Musharraf, who pardoned Singh and allowed him to return to India.

News Source : Samachar

Kashmiris angry, distrust Pakistan's parties

Kashmiris accused Pakistani political parties on Monday of turning their back on them and their struggle against Indian occupation after last month's elections in Pakistan.

Anger simmered in Jammu and Kashmir after Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), told an Indian television channel that relations between India and Pakistan should not be held "hostage" to the Kashmir issue.

Zardari angered Kashmiris when he said the two countries could wait so that future generations resolve the dispute in an atmosphere of trust.

"Zardari is ready to sell us to India like chickens," said 25-year-old student Gouse Mohammad. "I don't expect much from other leaders, they want to please India."

The PPP and Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League won most of the seats in last month's elections and are negotiating to form a coalition government, with issues like Kashmir on the backburner for the moment.

Furious at some of the statements, separatist groups in Kashmir said they would continue their struggle with or without Islamabad's support.

"It looks like PPP is backing out, but let me (make) clear to Islamabad, with or without the support of Pakistan, our freedom struggle will reach its logical end," said Shabir Ahmad Shah, a senior separatist leader.

"We will continue our fight, and occupation will not last forever." The 19-year-old separatist revolt in the disputed Himalayan region has killed more than 42,000 people, officials estimate.

India accuses Pakistan of arming, training and funding Kashmiri rebels, but Islamabad says it only provides "moral, political and diplomatic support".

Few Kashmiris were enthusiastic about the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. "Zardari and Sharif are stooges of India, how can we expect support from them if they form a new government in Pakistan?" said Farooq Shah, a Kashmiri shopkeeper.
"Gone are the days when Kashmir was Pakistan's jugular vein."

There has been little substantial progress on the Kashmir dispute since India and Pakistan, who rule the region in parts, launched a peace process in 2004.

But violence involving separatist militants and Indian soldiers has fallen significantly. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a hard line separatist leader, said Pakistan had abandoned Kashmir long before these elections.

"It is not the future government ... after 9/11, the Pakistan government has taken a U-turn on Kashmir. Pakistan should do some rethinking and support the Kashmiri cause," he said.

Pakistan came under renewed international pressure over its support for Kashmiri militants in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and global condemnation of terrorism.

But Indian government officials in Kashmir said they hoped democracy in Pakistan would help normalise relations. "People are tired of violence and they are now worried about economic issues and want peace for progress and prosperity," said Kashmir's social welfare minister, Abdul Gani Vakil.

News Source : Samachar

India gets hi-tech offshore lab for Rs 232 crore

ON BOARD SAGAR NIDHI: It's an acquisition that would make India's deep-sea research scale new heights and the grit of scientists from National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) indicates they are raring to put the Rs 232-crore "offshore lab" to optimum use.

Sagar Nidhi , which can carry 30 scientists at one time, is now the most sophisticated Oceanography Research Vehicle (ORV) India has.

Its unmanned camera-laden robotic submersible can dive 6,000 metres deep to perform multiple applications through an onboard remote-controlled console. It would be the maximum depth that any Indian gizmo has travelled so far.

"We had been waiting for this world-class vehicle because many ongoing ocean projects could not fructify. Built with global partnership, this vessel would make our scientists resolve the mysteries of the ocean bed," science and technology minister Kapil Sibal told TOI.

The country's first technology demonstrator vessel would be put to immediate use in deep sea mining, desalination, scooping up polymetallic nodules and finding gas hydrates on the ocean bed. The "ice-classed" vehicle can cruise for 45 days at a stretch and would expectedly help in the country's Antarctica research mission as well, besides supporting underwater observation system.

The fully air-conditioned Sagar Nidhi comes with an onboard tsunami warning buoy which, Sibal said, would pass on warning of any impending storm to people within 10 minutes through a system of ground stations and satellites.

Among the best equipped vessels of its kind globally, the prize possession, built in Italy, can also be used as an assisting vehicle during distress situations on the sea due to its salvage and tow capacity. NIOT director S Kathiroli, who led the team of scientists on board, said the vehicle would open new vistas for researchers as it was the most sophisticated so far.

"We hope to announce some primary outcomes very soon. The vehicle is expected to conduct wide-ranging experiments in due course," he said.

NIOT is also banking on the vessel in finding alternative sources of energy like methane. The ship's dynamic positioning system gives it much higher on-sea manoeuvrability than other vehicles in the category, globally.

News Source : Samachar

Snubbed by China, Jet may fly to US via HK

NEW DELHI: With China playing hardball in granting Jet Airways clearance to fly to the US via Shanghai, the Naresh Goyal-owned carrier is now planning an alternative route for this sector via Hong Kong.

India had granted rights to a Chinese cargo airline to fly to India in mid-January despite security concerns during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Beijing.

In return, Jet was to get rights for the Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco flight. But even one-and-a-half months after the Indian gesture, Jet is yet to get the clearance.

According to highly placed sources, one of the reasons for this could be that Jet wants to take passengers from Shanghai to San Francisco, something that may not be going down well with Chinese carriers. The aviation ministry has invited its Chinese counterpart to clear the air on the issue by March 21.

Jet is said to be keen on starting a flight to the US west coast via southeast Asia at the earliest, and if China does not relent, it may begin a Mumbai-Hong Kong-San Francisco flight.

Earlier, Indian Airlines had plans to fly to Australia via Guangzhou. But following its merger with Air India, the plans were put on hold.

Jet's alternative plan and the government's invitation to the Chinese authorities was discussed at a meeting between aviation secretary Ashok Chawla and the two Indian carriers who presently have the rights to fly abroad — the AI-IA combine and Jet-Jetlite (Sahara before being taken over by Goyal).

Chawla is learnt to have asked the Indian carriers to think beyond flying to just the Gulf, southeast Asia, Europe and North America.

"Following recent bilaterals with Pakistan, flights have to be introduced to Islamabad and other cities in both countries. Even other carriers waiting in the wings to fly abroad - SpiceJet and Kingfisher - have plans for flying to places already services by Indian carriers," said a senior official.

Union minister of civil aviation Praful Patel wants Indian carriers to fly to other commercially viable places as there are several bilaterals that are used only by foreign airlines without being reciprocated by carriers here.

While Jet has plans for new destinations like Johannesburg, AI will be able to finalize them only after getting more aircraft.

Incidentally, AI's estimation of aircraft requirement post 2011, by when all the 111 already ordered new aircraft would have arrived, seems to have been delayed because of the uncertainty over its top position.

News Source : Samachar

'I never wanted to wear a tie'

Self-taught animator Anand Bhanushali, who runs his own studio in Pune, likes being paid for doing art. At the age of 29, animator-turned-entrepreneur Anand Bhanushali employs 100 people and earns a monthly salary running into lakhs.

He co-founded animation studio Krayon Pictures in Pune with three friends last year. It is making two Indian animation feature films, and has enough work to keep staff busy for the next four years. Bhanushali said he expected to increase his staff level to 300 in two years time.

Anand was born in Mumbai, and regularly returns on weekends to his Mulund family home. He taught himself 3D animation at home while studying for a commerce degree at Mumbai University. He then worked for an animation studio in Bandra before starting his venture in Pune.

"My direction was not towards ending up in 3D animation, but more towards art and just doing art," he explained. "Then, since animation was booming, it seemed to me it was the medium through which I could do art. I used to do a lot of graphic design on my computer and then got into 3D animation," he said. "Your canvas is not paper but a theatre or a television screen."

But he admitted that he was never skilled at drawing, and had always done everything on the computer. According to him you do not need to be "good at art" to work in animation.

"I guess I am the perfect example as I am not an artist," he said. "What you do need is a sense of motion," he said. "You need to be a good visualiser. It is a field with no bars. I want to encourage all the people who are looking at careers who have a notion they can't do it because it is more for arty people, that they can do it."

When hiring staff, he said he tried to gauge if they had a passion for the work as the hours could be tough, and not really evaluate whether they could draw. He said MBAs and engineers had been quite successful.

Anand, whose hobbies are trekking, camping and adventure sports, set up on his own because he wanted to do his own movies rather than more routine work outsourced to India from abroad. Currently, the bulk of the most creative part of animation, the pre-production part, is done overseas.

"My dream is to be a director," he said. "I think more and more Indian animators want creative freedom and are doing their own short films or movies, and it's definitely viable in today's market. The biggest plus of the job is that you get paid for doing art, and you see your name in credits. Every project comes with new problems and hence new solutions. It's not monotonous. It's like not going to work every day and, anyway, I never wanted to wear a tie."

News Source : Samachar

'Aussie' friend helped Sachin in practice

Sachin Tendulkar's 19-year-long career has seen him form many friendships and attract numerous admirers in all the cities he's travelled to.

His longevity means he has seen several team mates come and go. One of them is Subroto Banerjee who still has a strong relationship with the little master.

Banerjee may not have made a mark in international cricket, but he is now a certified Under-19 bowling coach in Australia and trains some of the best fast bowling talent in the world. No wonder then that old friend Tendulkar always calls upon Banerjee's services when he is in Sydney.

"It's my good fortune that I get to bowl to Sachin," Banerjee says. "Not everyone gets that chance. When ever he comes to Sydney he calls me to bowl to him."

It seems like Subroto's hard work with Sachin is paying off at the right time. He helped Tendulkar tone up and score that scintillating 100 in the Sydney Test, and a second session with Subroto has resulted in the Bombay Bomber's first one-day hundred in Australia on Sunday.

Subroto says, "Anything for an old friend."

"We have been good friends since we toured together in Australia," says Banerjee who had toured Australia for the 1992 World Cup, and the Benson and Hedges triangular series just before it.

"I've actually know him since my days in the MRF academy. He was 13 years old at the time when he used to come to bat. He came to Madras with Vasu Paranjpe. I used to bowl to him at the nets for hours."

Banerjee played six ODIs and a single Test, which was incidentally in Sydney. He was mostly criticized for not being able to bowl long spells. But he's had a successful run as coach.

Now 39, he had retired from cricket in 1992. Even though he trains Australian cricketers, he says his heart will forever be in India.

"Being with the team brings to memory the tours I had been in the team," he says. "Though I am not with them, I am still with them."

With Tendulkar notching up Test and one-day hundreds in Sydney, there is much for Subroto and India to celebrate.

News Source : Samachar